ASSESSMENT OF "FIRE" WEBSITES

Bernd ROHRMANN (University of Melbourne)

= Project outline =

The project aims to develop criteria for the usefulness of websites
on disaster preparedness, to apply them in a critical assessment of
websites provided by fire authorities, and to identify needs for the future
enhancement
of fire website use. Both housefire issues and bushfire (wildfire,
forest fire) issues are considered.

Research plan, phase 1 (mid-2000 to 2001): After scanning a
large number of pertinent internet resources, six websites were selected, 4
Australian and 2 North American ones. They were assessed by experienced raters
according to a set of substantive and procedural criteria, including
comprehensibility, substantive completeness, meeting information needs, visual appeal,
navigability of the site. To guide the assessments, a standardized instrument
containing appraisal scales and open-ended questions was developed. Participant
set-up: 4 fire experts, 4 residents of bushfire-prone areas, 4 risk
communication researchers, 4 cognitive psychologists experienced with websites.
For a report about the main results click afw-report.

In phase 2 of this project (2002), exploratory interviews
with residents in fire-prone areas were conducted. All findings
gathered were then discussed in an expert workshop, and conclusions about the
current utility and future potential of internet-based approaches to enhancing
fire safety of residents are to be developed.